Competition and fun for young sailors at Quincy Bay Race Week

Despite light winds Friday, competition was keen and the young sailors had fun on the second day of Quincy Bay Race Week at Wessagussett Yacht Club in Weymouth.

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By Jay N. MillerFor The Patriot Ledger

Wicked Local

By Jay N. MillerFor The Patriot Ledger

Posted Jul. 25, 2014 at 10:24 PM
Updated Jul 25, 2014 at 10:35 PM

By Jay N. MillerFor The Patriot Ledger

Posted Jul. 25, 2014 at 10:24 PM
Updated Jul 25, 2014 at 10:35 PM

» Social News

WEYMOUTH – The second day of the annual Quincy Bay Race Week enjoyed nearly perfect weather, with just one flaw; not much wind for the 54 boats of young sailors competing in 11 different classes. Nonetheless the 78 sailors guiding those boats got in two more races Friday, giving them five races total in most classes for the Inside Line competition at Wessagussett Yacht Club.

“(Thursday) was a beautiful day for sailing, but today there was little or no wind out there,” said Quincy Bay Race Week president Don McCarthy. “It took us much longer today to get in just two races. But the kids had fun, we had no mishaps and no injuries, and overall it was a great time. We have a lot of good volunteers who make it all possible for us to hold this regatta, and they deserve our thanks. And the kids meet and make friends with kids from all the other yacht clubs and sailing programs, so aside from the competition, it’s just a real good time for them.”

QBRW Outside Line racing, for bigger boats with more advanced sailors, will take place at Squantum Yacht Club in Quincy Saturday and Sunday, capped off with a celebration and awards program at Wollaston Yacht Club on Sunday night.

The young sailors competing in Thursday and Friday’s Inside Line racing ranged in age from 8 to 18, and also encompassed those with several years of experience sailing to first-year sailors.

One of the more veteran sailors Friday was Wollaston resident Lizzy Bell, 16, who took the first place in the 420 class.

“Today was a good day weather-wise, but it was really funny because there wasn’t much wind out there in the harbor,” said Bell, who’s entering her junior year at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham. “I think my experience, and just the amount of time I’ve been able to practice, made the difference for me. I’ve been doing Quincy Bay Race Week for as long as I can remember, and this is my fourth summer in the 420s. Once I started sailing the 420s, something just clicked and I really like this type of boat. I sail out of Town River Yacht Club, and I will be looking to continue sailing when I go to college.”

Possibly the most diminutive sailor in the front ranks was Brookline’s Owen O’Connell, who’s 11 and claims he’s a robust 60 pounds. O’Connell is quite the competitor, as he won the Optimist Blue Fleet title,and also prevailed in the Overall Optimist standings, to earn the coveted Jack White Trophy.

“I was down here for the regatta last year, but it was too windy for me and I couldn’t sail,” said O’Connell. “I had done one other regatta this year, so this was my third time sailing a regatta, overall, and I’ve been sailing two years in all. I just kept on believing in myself this week.”

Page 2 of 3 - “People would think it’s real hard to control the boat when you’re my size,” said O’Connell, who sails out of Squantum YC. “But actually, it’s easier for me to get the sails up, where other kids might tip their boats or have the sail flapping in the wind. I’m real good at the starts so a lot of my races out there I was really far ahead of everyone right away. This is my second time winning – I won my class at the Town River Regatta last summer.”

The sailors we spoke with Thursday all held on to their leads and won with good showings Friday, including Cottage Park YC’s Marc Montalto and brother Joey Montalto, who dominated the N-10 Blue Fleet, and Weymouth’s Jackie Schneider, who prevailed at Laser Full Rigs.

Quincy’s Kristina Nardone of Town River YC also finished strong to take the Laser Radials, and the Walter Marston Trophy signifying excellence in that division. Nardone was the defending champion, having won this class last summer.

“There was really no wind today,” smiled Nardone. “All I could do was try and sit more forward in the boat to try and go a little faster, but it was difficult building much speed today.

‘‘I really enjoy the regattas and will look to sail in a few more this summer. I’m looking forward to the Town River Regatta on August 23-24. I’m also thinking I might enter the Make-A-Wish Regatta next week at Winthrop.”

Spectators are reminded that the weekend’s later tides will mean the Outside Line racing will start and finish later in the day, mid-day to late afternoon, off Squantum YC.